Decorative housewares

August 14-16, 2026

Instructor: Lashen Orendorff

This class will focus on the fundamental forging techniques of shaping steel by hand at the anvil. Students will develop an understanding of how to swing a hammer safely, and how the material can move, and be shaped with each blow. We will explore different forging techniques through a progression of skill-building exercises. Hooks, leaves and scrolls and some introduction to the use of top tooling, swages and working in teams will be introduced. Students will leave the workshop with hand forged forged S hooks, a decorative wall hook, and a tea light candleholder.

Blacksmith’s Knife

August 28-30, 2026

Instructor: Lashen Orendorff

In this three day workshop students will learn to forge the traditional blacksmith’s knife, a 4” blade with an integral forged handle made from carbon steel. We will be working at the anvil, forging the shape, and then move to the bevels of the blade. 

After forging, we will walk through the concepts and practice of hardening and tempering to preserve the cutting edge and toughness to the blade. This class is designed as an introduction to forged cutting tools and offers students a project that promotes hammer control and a keen eye for detail, all while creating a functional hand-forged knife.

Coat Rack

September 4-6, 2026

Instructor: Haley Arbour

In this class, students can expect to learn and develop an understanding of the fundamental forging techniques. Focusing on hammer control and comfortability at the anvil, students will build confidence through repetition and the production of multiples. Discussion of design principles and what makes forged work both functional and visually engaging will be prevalent. By the end of the course, participants will complete a finished coat rack and have an understanding of essential forging skills.

Draw Knife

September 11-13, 2026

Instructor: Lashen Orendorff

In this class, students will forge and finish a draw knife and a carpenter's bench chisel.

Focusing on forging at the anvil and carving the handles by hand, students will leave this class knowing how to harden and temper, and will have a pair of these old-school tools that are ready to be put to work and will last for years to come. Hand forging techniques as well as symmetrical forgings will be the main focus. Shaping the handle for the tools will be done with a spoke shave.

Smith’s Tool

September 18-20, 2026

Instructors: Haley Arbour & Lashen Orendorf

Need a tool? Make a tool!

Much of the work that blacksmiths and metal artists do requires the use of specialized and custom tooling. Whether creating sculpture with hand held chisels or laying out and forming architectural joinery pieces, knowing how to make your own tools is an essential skill for the blacksmith. Punches, chisels, stamps, and tongs are the basis for this class. 

Learn the process of working with high-carbon tool steel and the procedures of hardening and heat treating the material to make functional tools that will last.

Flat Jaw Tongs

September 25-27, 2026

Instructor: Haley Arbour

In this class, students can expect to become comfortable working at the anvil and with a power hammer. Tong geometry and forging efficiency will be discussed. Working at the anvil, we will develop the ability to execute clean, intentional isolations of mass. Half-faced hammer blows, symmetrical forging, as well as tapering and riveting are all techniques that will drive this class. The challenge will be to forge two identical tong blanks that we will assemble and use! Students will leave this class with a set of flat jaw tongs and the ability to make more.

Candle Holders

October 2-3, 2026

Instructor: Lashen Orendorff

In this class, students will explore and experiment with creations of their own design. Starting with guided instruction, students will forge two candleholders before designing their own. Hammer control, joinery, and jig making will be worked through and major points of discussion.

October 9-11, 2026

Instructor: Haley Arbour

In this class, students can expect to learn how to punch and drift a hammer's eye by hand and with the aid of strikers. Striking etiquette and form, as well as safety will be high priority, and a major topic of discussion. Types of hammers, balance, and tool usage will be discussed. Heat treating experience is preferred but not required. Students will forge and handle a forging hammer that they can take home and use.

Utensils

October 16-18, 2026

Instructor: Haley Arbour

In this class, students will create a set of kitchen tools for use at the grill or in the home. We will focus on forging at the anvil before moving to the power hammer for refinement. Emphasis will be placed on clean, intentional transitions, upsetting material to establish mass, and developing comfort in both design and in-hand function. These principles will be explored through both demonstration and discussion throughout the course.

October 23-25, 2026

Instructor: Lashen Orendorff

Come make an axe by hand! Students will work in teams of smith and striker to forge an axe. We will learn to use hand help top tooling, how to punch and eye, and how to drift a hole to dimension, all with the use of sledgehammers. Sledgehammer safety and form, as well as how to work in a team effectively, will all be major topics of discussion. Students will be guided through hardening and tempering the cutting edge, shaping the wedge and handle, and assembling the axe to be fully functional. Expect to leave this class with a forged axe, and the ability to make more.

October 28-30, 2026

Instructor: Lashen Orendorff

Just in time for Hallows Eve! Explore mask-making using forged steel. Students will design and create a sculptural mask using steel flatstock and will learn techniques similar to repousee and chasing, for shaping and texturing the masks by hand. This class introduces the sculptural use of different punches and chisels as well as swages and dishing forms to bring depth and detail to the features of the masks. Each student will create a one-of-a-kind sculptural mask and learn how to form, texture and finish hot plate steel to bring a sense of life and presence to their works.

Fireplace Tools

November 6-8, 2026

Instructor: Haley Arbour

Students will learn foundational forging methods before moving into the design and making of a fireplace set. We will explore what makes a tool effective, durable, and satisfying to use, while also discussing basic design decisions and form. Practice will be encouraged throughout as students repeat and build confidence at the anvil. By the end of the course, participants will leave with a set of handcrafted fire tools and a strong foundation in blacksmithing techniques.

Circles, Layout Tools, Dividers, Compass and Scribes

November 13-15, 2026

Instructor: Lashen Orendorff

Students will learn the basics of forging layout tools; our project for this workshop will be the blacksmith compass. Students will be guided through skill-building exercises and will forge the components of the compass by hand at the anvil. We will cover tapers, rivets, mass isolation and hardening and tempering of tool steel. As well as some of the many applications of the compass scribe.

Bushcraft Knife

November 20-22, 2026

Instructor: Lashen Orendorff

In this workshop we will make a full tang bushcraft knife. Students will be shown the process of designing a blade and will work through the steps to complete this knife using hand tools at the anvil. We will forge the shape and punch the rivet holes to attach the handle scales. Hammer control, tapering and forging the bevels will be discussed, as well as the hardening and tempering processes to maintain a keen edge. 

Our focus will be on forging the knife to shape, while using minimal grinding to refine and sharpen the cutting edge. Participants can expect to leave this class with a completed knife and the knowledge to turn recycled tool steel into a solid tool that is ready to be put to daily use.

Box Jaw Tongs

November 27-29, 2026

Instructor: Haley Arbour

In this class, we will forge a pair of box jaw tongs. Starting at the anvil and moving through the steps of making a pair of flat jaw tongs, we will work through the process of forging two diverse halves to one whole. The challenge here is to forge two pieces that are different, but still fit and work together. Students can expect to leave this class with the knowledge of how to make a pair of box jaws and the ability to make more.

Candelabra

December 4-6, 2026

Instructor: Lashen Orendorff

In this class we will be making a sculptural candelabra with multiple forged components, connected through wedged mortise and tenon joinery. Students will be shown how to forge all the components of this design and joinery technique by hand with top tooling and swages as well as by using the power hammer to draw out and shape the interlocking pieces. Traditional blacksmith joinery meets modern design, come create a beautiful centerpiece for your winter gathering table.

Spoons

November 11-13, 2026

Instructor: Haley Arbour

In this workshop, we will explore the variety and complexity in handmade utensils. Focusing on spoons! Students will be guided through the process of an integral spoon and a spoon with a riveted handle, with the opportunity to create from their own design. The use of dishing swages and top tooling will be demonstrated. Students can expect to leave this class with a finished spoon, ready to use!